You ever watch a movie and realize halfway through that you aren't actually rooting for who you think you are? Or worse, that the person telling you the story isn't the hero at all?
That’s basically the gut-punch waiting for you in Fallen, the 1998 supernatural thriller that honestly deserves way more credit than it gets. Denzel Washington plays John Hobbes, a Philadelphia detective who is just too good at his job. He’s the kind of guy who catches the bad guy, watches the execution, and expects to go home and sleep like a baby.
Except the bad guy isn't just a guy.
The Fallen Denzel Washington movie is a weird, grimy, and surprisingly philosophical trip into the idea that evil isn't just a choice—it’s a virus. It’s contagious. And in this world, it’s a demon named Azazel who moves from person to person through a simple touch.
The Twist That Most People Miss
People always talk about The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects when they talk about 90s twists. But Fallen does something arguably meaner.
The movie starts with a voiceover. "I want to tell you about the time I almost died," Denzel’s voice says. You’re conditioned to think, "Okay, cool, Hobbes is narrating his own struggle." You spend two hours watching him suffer, lose his family, and eventually sacrifice himself in a snowy cabin to trap the demon.
But then the narration kicks back in.
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"Like I said... I want to tell you about the time I almost died."
It wasn't Hobbes. It was Azazel. The demon was the one talking to us the whole time. It’s a total "f-you" to the audience because we’ve been empathizing with the narrator, only to realize we’ve been listening to a primordial monster brag about how he outsmarted a "self-righteous cop."
Why "Time Is on My Side" Is So Creepy Now
If you’ve seen the film, you can't hear The Rolling Stones without looking over your shoulder. Director Gregory Hoblit (who also did Primal Fear) used "Time Is on My Side" as a calling card for the demon.
When Elias Koteas—playing the condemned killer Edgar Reese—sings it in the gas chamber, it’s dark. But when the song starts popping up in the mouths of random grandmothers, little kids, and fellow cops, it becomes terrifying.
- The Mechanics of the Demon: Azazel can’t just fly around forever. If he’s out of a host, he only has a few seconds (the length of a single breath) to find a new one before he dissipates.
- The Touch: He moves by physical contact. There’s a famous scene on a crowded sidewalk where we see the "spirit" hop through a dozen strangers in seconds. It’s filmed with this shaky, yellowish Ektachrome stock that makes the world look jaundiced.
- The Restriction: He can’t possess someone "pure" or "chosen" easily, which is why he has to break Hobbes down mentally and spiritually before he can move in.
A Cast That Had No Business Being This Good
Look at the call sheet for this thing. It’s insane.
Denzel is Denzel—he brings a weight to Hobbes that makes the supernatural stuff feel grounded. If a lesser actor were explaining Aramaic riddles, you’d roll your eyes. With Denzel, you’re locked in.
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Then you’ve got John Goodman as Jonesy, Hobbes' partner. Goodman plays the "lovable big guy" so well that when the demon eventually hitches a ride in him, it feels like a genuine betrayal. And don't forget James Gandolfini is just hanging out in the background as another detective, Lou, right before The Sopranos made him a household name.
Even the set felt "off" according to the actors. Embeth Davidtz, who played Gretta Milano, told stories about her shoes being moved in her hotel room and feeling a "presence" while she was researching the mythology of Azazel. Denzel even mentioned in interviews that the crew felt like something was trying to tell them to stop. Maybe it was just 90s marketing fluff, or maybe Philadelphia in the winter is just that depressing.
What Really Happened at the Ending?
The finale is where Fallen earns its cult classic status. Hobbes thinks he’s found the loophole. He lures Azazel (who is in Jonesy's body at the point) to a remote cabin. He kills Jonesy and then smokes a cigarette laced with the same poison used on his brother.
The plan? If Hobbes dies and there’s no one else around for miles, Azazel has nowhere to go. He’ll die in the cold.
It’s a brilliant plan. It’s also a total failure.
Because as Hobbes is gasping his last breath and Azazel is screaming in frustration, a mangy cat wanders out from under the porch.
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The demon jumps into the cat.
The "I almost died" line makes sense now. The demon survived. Evil didn't just win; it mocked the hero’s sacrifice. It’s a bleak, cynical ending that wouldn't fly in most big-budget movies today, but that’s why it sticks with you.
Why It Flopped (And Why You Should Care)
When it hit theaters in January 1998, it basically got buried. Titanic was still a juggernaut, and critics weren't sure if they were watching a cop movie or a horror movie. It ended up making about $25 million domestically against a much higher expectation.
But over the last two decades, it’s become the "one" Denzel movie people rediscover on streaming and go, "Wait, why isn't everyone talking about this?"
It deals with some heavy themes:
- The Nature of Evil: Is it something we do, or something that happens to us?
- Faith vs. Logic: Hobbes is a man of evidence who has to accept the impossible.
- The Longevity of Sin: The demon mentions he’s been around for thousands of years. Humans are just blips on his radar.
How to Watch It Today
If you’re going to revisit the Fallen Denzel Washington movie, pay attention to the cinematography during the possession scenes. They used a "mesmerizer" lens that could tilt and blur the edges of the frame. It was a practical effect that looks way better than the CGI we see now.
Also, keep an eye on the cats. They appear more often than you think throughout the movie, foreshadowing that final escape.
Your Next Steps:
- Check the Soundtrack: Listen to the original Stones version of "Time Is on My Side" and then the Elias Koteas version. The shift in tone is a masterclass in how to ruin a catchy song.
- Rewatch with the Reveal: Watch the first ten minutes again knowing that the voice you’re hearing is Azazel. Every line takes on a different, much more sinister meaning.
- Compare to Se7en: Notice how both films use the "gloomy city" aesthetic but take wildly different paths regarding the "villain's" ultimate goal.